Thursday, May 16, 2013

Why wouldn't the IRS look closely at groups whose raison d'etre is hatred of paying taxes? (And also of having access to medicine)

If this guy doesn't realize that his taxes have gone down,

what are the odds he understands the 501(c) rules?

﻿

And they keep saying these groups were "targeted." I think that targeting means something a bit stronger than "took an extra look at."

Also, from everything I've heard, these teabagger groups absolutely have been violating the rules for 501(c) organizations. According to Mother Jones: These 501(c)(4) nonprofits, also known as "social-welfare" groups, are not allowed to make politics their "primary activity."

So, a group of people for whom the term "social welfare" is an obscenity form a "social welfare group," and that's NOT supposed to raise anyone's suspicions? Go to any teabagger rally (you'll need a time machine) and ask the people there whether what they're doing is promoting social welfare. Then put some ice on that black eye. These people are doing nothing but trying (and sometimes succeeding) to influence politics. Look at this handy chart from the inspector general's report:

﻿

If you're a 501(c)(3), you can't be involved in politics at all. If you're a 501(c)(4), your involvement in politics must be "limited" and can not be your "primary activity." So what other activities did these groups engage in besides engaging in political campaign intervention? You can make the argument that they operated within the law, that their idiot rallies were for "educational" purposes, and that the guidelines are somewhat vague, but surely this sort of thing should invite extra scrutiny if they're claiming tax-exempt status.

(What I think IRS scrutiny would look like)

﻿

And this trumped-up "scandal" should have been swept into the dustbin of history along with "Travelgate" and "Solyndra-gate" and all the others, but noooooo. POTUS gets out there and apologizes, and says that "the misconduct . . . is inexcusable. It’s inexcusable, and Americans are right to be angry about it, and I am angry about it. I will not tolerate this kind of behavior in any agency, but especially in the IRS."

And then the IRS director has to fall on his sword, even though this apparently happened under the previous director, a George W. Bush appointee. And even though he was never really the director of the IRS because Republicans have refused to allow anyone to be confirmed for any position in any department because they're sociopathic assholes.